Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/59721
FISHING 16 WALLEYES IN THE WHITESHELL There's a point along the TransCanada Highway east of Winnipeg when the far-as-the-eye-can-see prairie suddenly gives way to the craggy Canadian Shield. Granite claws burst out of canola fields and silvery aspens are swallowed up by sky-high tamaracks. Soon you'll set foot in Whiteshell Provincial Park, the granddaddy of parks in Manitoba, where it's all about these great outdoors – blue-black lakes that plunge deep and hiking trails that cut through silent white spruce clusters. Needless to say, the fishing is excellent here. There's Falcon Lake at the very south edge and Big Channel Catfish Country Dorothy Lake to the north. In between, at least a dozen lakes and stretches of the Winnipeg River offer walleyes aplenty, not to mention several other species. You might even end up battling a rare and ancient sturgeon. There are endless spots to dock your own boat and set up your tent in a campground. Or you can visit one of the lodges that offer accommodations and boat rentals by the hour, day or week. For a bit of adventure, head to Caddy Lake and try your hand at navigating the tunnels, blasted out of Precambrian rock by the railway company to make travel easier. Feel your way through the 30-metre passage and end up in South Cross Lake. Drop your lines into calm bays and hope the northern pike are biting today. Shorelunch GO NORTHWEST You'll start to feel the pressures of civilization fall away as you journey north in the province. The highways meander through sparsely populated terrain. Alongside, plenty of lakes thick with multiple species glimmer in the sun. Take your pick from the communities of Flin Flon, The Pas or Cranberry Portage – all pushing up against the western border of Manitoba. Book into a cozy cabin with your fishing boat parked right out the front door. Get ready to pluck a few walleyes from the drink, get a campfire going and start fixing that great Canadian meal – shorelunch! DOCK FIX Some like to fish, some don't? Then head to Gimli, where you'll find the perfect mix. An easy one-hour drive puts you on the shoreline of Lake Winnipeg where a massive pier juts out into deeper water. Anglers in the clan should throw pickerel rigs loaded with shiners over the concrete wall and wait for the tap, tap, tap. Meanwhile, other members of your group can explore the museum, get a soft ice-cream come, try on a new outfit, get a tan or beachcomb for smooth stones. Everyone can gather at day's end for a buttery pickerel dinner, served at several of this resort town's restaurants. Whiteshell Provincial Park